MLB Pipeline

Our Pipeline Podcast hosts still have a little gas left in the tank after an epic 18-inning World Series contest, and Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff begin by discussing the Game 3 thriller featuring typical heroes (Freedie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani) and one we never saw coming (Will Klein). After that, they shift their focus to the Arizona Fall League. They talk about the most recent Hitter and Pitcher of the Week (Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle, Astros right-hander James Hicks) and spotlight Statcast standouts such as Pirates outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez and Tigers infielder Max Anderson. Jonathan interviews Guardians right-hander Daniel Espino, who's showcasing some of the best stuff in the Fall League after missing more than three years following a pair of shoulder surgeries, and then the guys wrap it up with a mailbag question about which farm systems have stood out the most in the AFL.

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While the baseball world understandably has much of its focus on the impeding World Series, the MLB Pipeline crew has been keeping tabs on the other exciting action in the Arizona Fall League. Sam Dykstra, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff spent the bulk of this week's episode digging into the AFL, from top performances from Pirates sluggers Esmerlyn Valdez and Tony Blanco Jr. to pitching performances from the Orioles left-hander Luis De Leon. Sam also sat down with Astros No. 4 prospect Walker Janek, who is off to a hot start in Arizona. The gang did spend some time on the World Series, looking at how the Dodgers and Blue Jays were built and how members of both rosters stack up as former prospects before answering a Mailbag question about one of them, Trey Yesavage.

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Despite uncharacteristic rainouts wreaking some havoc on Week 1 of the Arizona Fall League, there was plenty of action to discuss for Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff on this week's episode. They talked about the Hitter and Pitcher of the Week as well as some other standout performers from the first set of games before Jim chatted with A's rookie Max Muncy, who is back in the AFL for the second time. Then Jason quizzed Jim and Jonathan on preseason prospect predictions they made last winter before answering a question from the Mailbag.

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On the latest edition of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo focus on the rookie pitchers who have delivered huge performances in the playoffs: Cam Schlittler (Yankees), Trey Yesavage (Blue Jays), Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) and Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers). Also regarding the postseason, they discuss the prospect pedigrees of the participants, including seven players who ranked No. 1 on the Top 100 Prospects list. The Arizona Fall League has started, so there's plenty of AFL talk, including an interview with the highest-rated prospect in the desert, Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle, as well as a related listener mailbag question.

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In this week's episode of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo dive into the about-to-begin MLB postseason as only the Pipeline crew can, by looking at how each of the 12 postseason teams constructed their rosters, highlighting the Guardians' homegrown-heavy squad and how teams like the Mariners and Brewers have relied on trades to build a winner. Jim then sits down with Mariners scout Rob Mummau, who scouted and signed MVP candidate Cal Raleigh in college. Then Jim and Jonathan do a 10-pick draft of 2026 Draft prospects from their Top 20 college and high school lists before finishing off with a Mailbag question about this year's MiLB Awards.

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With the Minor League season coming to an end, Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jason Ratliff focus on the top performances of 2025 in the latest Pipeline Podcast. They begin by breaking down the candidates for Hitting Prospect of the Year (Konnor Griffin/Pirates, Kevin McGonigle/Tigers, J.J. Wetherholt/Cardinals) and Pitching Prospect of the Year (Griffin Herring/Rockies, Jonah Tong/Mets, Trey Yesavage/Blue Jays). The guys also highlight some of the best power/speed seasons, including a 20-60 performance by Griffin and the third straight 20-20 year from the Rays' Carson Williams. Also on the agenda: the new International Top 50 Prospects list for 2026, and a mailbag question about how likely it is that we'll see the best prospects in the Minors right now playing in the Majors next year.

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Hosts Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff dish on a wide variety of subjects in the latest MLB Pipeline Podcast, starting with breaking down the newly released Arizona Fall League rosters that include two of the game's four best prospects in shortstops Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) and Sebastian Walcott (Rangers). Jonathan interviews another top shortstop in Colt Emerson (Mariners) before the guys discuss the Double-A playoffs, which are loaded with star talent. Then there's more: recent callups Trey Yesavage (Blue Jays) and Bryce Eldridge (Giants), Jonathan introduces a new game ("Who Am I?") for Jason and Jim to play and a listener mailbag question about AFL award predictions. (edited)

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The Minor League playoffs have begun at the Single-A and High-A levels, and this week's Pipeline Podcast begins by breaking down the top prospects to watch in postseason action. Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff highlight that contingent, which includes the No. 1 pick (Eli Willits) and No. 1 prospect (Ethan Holliday) in the 2025 Draft as well as seven other Top 100 Prospects. The guys also discuss the two most recent prospects to join the Top 100 list, Pirates outfielder Edward Florentino and Giants shortstop Josuar Gonzalez, and preview the next addition (You'll have to listen to find out!). After that, they talk about players who made the Prospect Team of the Week most often this season, led by Reds third baseman Sal Stewart, and field not one but two listener mailbag questions from members of the band Subway Ghosts.

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Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff are back together for the first time in a long time for this week's MLB Pipeline Podcast, and that affords them the opportunity to take a look at the deluge of big league callups and debuts of Top 100 prospects from the past couple of weeks. On the pitching side, they break down the Pirates' Bubba Chandler, Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle and Mets right-hander Jonah Tong. There have been five hitters to get the call of late and the guys talk about all of them: Carson Williams (Rays), Jhostynxon Garcia (Red Sox, Sal Stewart (Reds), Harry Ford (Mariners) and Carter Jensen (Royals). After that, talk turns to the Arizona Fall League and a "wish list" of prospects Jim and Jonathan hope to see in the league this year. Before finishing up with a question from the Mailbag, Jim and Jonathan take a few minutes to pay tribute to legendary scout Roy Clark, who recently passed away.

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For this week’s MLB Pipeline Podcast, Jonathan Mayo made a stop in Altoona, Pa., to check in on two of the best infield prospects in the game. He started with the Phillies’ Aidan Miller, who has made some serious adjustments to his approach to finish his season with Double-A Reading red-hot. Then he moved over to the home clubhouse to chat with No. 1 overall prospect Konnor Griffin of the Pirates, who just got promoted to that level. Before those conversations, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan break down the top farm systems based on three groupings: infielders, outfielders and pitchers. And the duo comes back after the interviews to answer a Mailbag question about Royals pitching prospects.

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